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Blueberry consumption inhibits gastrointestinal tumorigenesis in AOM‐treated rats
Author(s) -
Simmen Frank A,
Xiao Rijin,
Wu Xianli,
Prior Ronald L
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.887.6
Subject(s) - aberrant crypt foci , incidence (geometry) , medicine , adenoma , large intestine , colorectal cancer , gastroenterology , adenocarcinoma , azoxymethane , endocrinology , anticarcinogen , carcinogenesis , physiology , cancer , colonic disease , physics , optics
Epidemiological studies show inverse or no association of fruit consumption with relative risk for colorectal cancers. Such studies did not examine specific fruits and in particular, those enriched in polyphenols with high antioxidant capacities. We examined blueberry (BB), a fruit rich in anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, for effects on gastrointestinal cancers in AOM‐treated Sprague‐Dawley rats. AIN93G diets containing no or 10% freeze‐dried BB were fed to rats over their lifetime. Rats received AOM at days 53 and 60 of age, with colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and gastrointestinal tumors quantified 6 and 17 weeks later, respectively. BB decreased ACF (by 24%, P=0.093) in males and increased ACF (31%, P=0.064) in females. Tumor incidence was reduced by BB in mid colon and proximal small intestine of male rats, resulting in a lower (26%, P=0.081) overall intestinal tumor incidence. In all intestine regions, female rats had reduced tumor incidence (∼70%, P<0.001) relative to control males, with no effects of BB manifested. Females had more adenomas (as a proportion of total tumor number) than did males. BB favored (P<0.05) greater adenoma/total tumor ratio in females. Results indicate inhibitory effects of BB on tumor initiation in AOM‐treated male rats and adenoma to adenocarcinoma transition in female rats, thus warranting further studies of BB on colorectal cancer. Supported by CRIS 6251‐51000‐005‐03S